Covid-19-Business Resources

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Resources for Manchester Businesses and Employees

(Updated 5/18/2020)

The Town of Manchester is closely monitoring resources intended to assist businesses and employees impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Please see the list of resource links below. This list will be updated as more information becomes available.

Are you a business owner who needs help navigating the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) or Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program (EIDL) process or have questions regarding other resources? Please call 860-647-3044 for assistance

April 7 Presentation to the Board of Directors


TEMPORARY OUTDOOR DINING PERMIT

Temporary Outdoor Dining Permit

Pursuant to Executive Order NO. 7MM regarding the State of Connecticut Business Reopening Plan, the Town is accepting applications to permit restaurants to create or expand outdoor dining in areas adjacent to their businesses. The following steps are required:

  1. If you are a tenant only, you must obtain permission from the owner in a format which will allow you to attach to your application (.pdf)
  2. A site layout plan is required as part of the application. To assist with that requirement, we have provided maps for all Manchester food establishments here: http://manct.us/plotplans/. Please feel free to utilize this resource as a starting point for your plan. Engineered and other plans drawn to scale are also welcome and may be required for detail.
  3. Complete and submit the online application at https://manchesterct.seamlessdocs.com/f/TempOutdoorDiningApp

Federal Resources

Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act - a relief package to help workers, families, hospitals and their staff, small businesses, and the unemployed during this crisis. The act includes:

  • Direct Payments to Individuals
  • Unemployment Insurance (UI) and Emergency Leave
  • Support for the State of Connecticut to help pay for necessary expenditures related to addressing the COVID-19 public health crisis.

Provisions to assist small businesses include:

  • Paycheck Protection Program (PPP): Provides small businesses, nonprofits, and other entities with zero-fee loans of up to $10 million based on average monthly payroll costs. Up to eight weeks of average payroll, mortgage interest, rent, and utility payments can be forgiven if the business retains its employees and their salary levels. Small businesses and other eligible entities will be able to apply if they were harmed by COVID-19 between February 15, 2020 and June 30, 2020. This program would be retroactive to February 15, 2020, in order to help bring workers who may have already been laid off back onto payrolls.
  • SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program - (EIDL): Low interest loans of up to $2 million are available through the Small Business Administration (SBA). Businesses with fewer than 500 employees, sole proprietors, independent contractors and nonprofits are eligible. Loan payments deferred for one year and no collateral is required for loans up to $25,000.
  • Emergency Economic Injury Grants: Provision to provide an advance of $10,000 to small businesses and nonprofits that apply for an SBA economic injury disaster loan (EIDL) within three days of applying for the loan. To access the advance, an applicant must first apply for an EIDL and then request the advance. The advance does not need to be repaid under any circumstance, and may be used to keep employees on payroll, to pay for sick leave, meet increased production costs due to supply chain disruptions, or pay business obligations, including debts, rent and mortgage payments.

Existing SBA Loans - The Small Business Administration will cover all loan payments for existing SBA borrowers, including principal, interest, and fees, for six months.

  • Refundable tax credits: (Additional information from the IRS forthcoming)
  • Payroll taxes: The law defers payroll through the end of 2020. Deferred taxes will not become due until end of 2021 and end of 2022, with 50% of the liability being paid at each date.

Weekly Updates from the Connecticut Small Business Development Center

Shelly Koehler, a Business Advisor with the Connecticut Small Business Development Center will provide a weekly update and answer questions regarding: current regulations, available resources, and best practices to adapt your business during the COVID-19 emergency

Thursdays from 2-2:30p via ZOOM
RSVP required for Zoom link via: https://bit.ly/BizUpdate4You

Additional details:

Summary of the CARES Act and Frequently Asked Questions (Senator Chris Murphy’s office)
Small Business Owner’s Guide to the CARES Act (United States Senate)
FAQ: Small Business Paycheck Protection Program (CBIA)
Coronavirus (COVID-19): Small Business Guidance & Loan Resources (Small Business Administration)


State of Connecticut Resources

CT CARES Small Business Grant Program

The Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) has created a $50 million grant program to help our small businesses in Connecticut recover from the ongoing challenges of COVID-19. Eligible businesses and nonprofits can receive a one-time $5,000 grant and all funds will be disbursed to approved applicants by December 30, 2020.

https://portal.ct.gov/DECD/Content/Coronavirus-Business-Recovery/CT-CARES-Small-Business-Grant-Program

CT Business Reopening and Recovery Center

https://business.ct.gov/recovery

Governor Lamont Signs Executive Order Providing Residential Rent Protections During COVID-19 Emergency

“Governor Ned Lamont signed an executive order enacting a series of protections for residential renters struggling to pay their housing costs during the COVID-19 emergency, ensuring that they will not be evicted during this nationwide crisis and receive grace periods over the next several months.”

https://portal.ct.gov/Office-of-the-Governor/News/Press-Releases/2020/04-2020/Governor-Lamont-Signs-Executive-Order-Providing-Residential-Rent-Protections

Governor Lamont Announces Mortgage Payment Relief During COVID-19 Crisis

“Connecticut Residents Economically Impacted by COVID-19 May Receive 90-Day Grace Periods to Make Mortgage Payments; Financial Institutions Agree Not to Negatively Impact Credit Reports as a Result of Accepting Payment Relief”

https://portal.ct.gov/Office-of-the-Governor/News/Press-Releases/2020/03-2020/Governor-Lamont-Announces-Mortgage-Payment-Relief-During-COVID19-Crisis

DECD's COVID-19 Business Emergency Response Unit:

The Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) has created a COVID-19 Business Emergency Response Unit dedicated to helping businesses navigate available resources. For specific questions related to small business, email the Joint Information Center at covid19.jic@ct.gov, or call the DECD small business hotline at 860-500-2333. Individuals can call 2-1-1 for more information. For the most updated COVID-19 information from the State of Connecticut, visit ct.gov/coronavirus.com.

Connecticut Recovery Bridge Loan Program

To provide emergency cash flow relief to small businesses and nonprofits negatively impacted by the coronavirus, Connecticut is now offering qualifying organizations with 100 or fewer employees access to no-interest loans.
Under the Connecticut Recovery Bridge Loan program, a qualifying business or nonprofit organization can apply for a loan of up to $75,000 or three months of operating expenses (whichever is lesser)."

Important Update (as of 3/27)

Please note that DECD is not accepting applications for the Connecticut Recovery Bridge Loan Program as of 3/27. For those that have already submitted an application, additional documentation can be sent within seven days of submittal. Incomplete applications will not be considered for funding.
DECD, along with Connecticut Innovations, has added additional staff to process applications for this loan program. Funding is anticipated to increase to $50 million. They are expected to accept future application once the initial ones are processed.

https://portal.ct.gov/DECD/Content/Coronavirus-Business-Recovery/CT-Recovery-Bridge-Loan-Program

HEDCO & DECD COVID-19 Business Response Program

Under this program a qualifying small business with 20 or fewer employees may apply for a zero-interest Line of Credit for up to $20,000. This $2 million program will be allocated to minority-owned and women-owned small businesses. The program will be administered and underwritten by HEDCO, Inc.

For more information, click here.

For information on business resources please visit the DECD Portal.

CT Small Business Development Center

Contact the Connecticut Small Business Development Center for more information and for assistance:
https://ctsbdc.com/covid19-businessresourcecenter/
Or apply directly here: https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela

CT Department of Labor

Information on Unemployment Benefits

COVID19 Guide for Workers & Employers: http://www.ctdol.state.ct.us/DOLCOVIDFAQ.PDF
For those workers needing to apply for unemployment, please go to www.filectui.com

Labor Department Launches New System for Self-Employed To Apply For Federal Unemployment Benefits

More information here.

Shared Work Program

“Whether you’re a small business or a large manufacturer, the Connecticut Department of Labor’s Shared Work Program saves you the time, worry, and expense of hiring and training new workers by keeping skilled employees on the job until business upturns. To participate, an employer must complete an application for the affected unit(s) within the company and submit it to the Connecticut Department of Labor for approval.”
https://www.ctdol.state.ct.us/progsupt/bussrvce/shared_work/

CT Department of Revenue Services

“Connecticut Extends Certain Tax Filing Deadlines to June 15, 2020”
https://portal.ct.gov/DRS/Press-Room/Press-Releases/2020/Effective-Immediately---DRS-Extends-Filing-Deadline-for-Certain-Annual-State-Business-Tax-Returns

Contacts for Manchester Businesses

Gary Anderson, AICP
Director of Planning & Economic Development
Town of Manchester
ganderson@manchesterct.gov

Shelly Koehler
Business Advisor
CT Small Business Development Center
michelle.koehler@uconn.edu

April Difalco
President
Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce
April@manchesterchamber.com